LGBT groups hopeful for respect, acceptance

Gay rights groups and theologians in Wisconsin saw Pope Francis' remarks on gays as pivotal and took them as a beginning for respectful dialogue between the Catholic Church and its gay and lesbian members.

Mary Kaye Radtke of Madison, national secretary for the Catholic LGBT group DignityUSA, said Francis' words showed that the church was changing — something she didn't expect to see in her lifetime. "Many gays and lesbians have been told they're not welcome, and that's really hard to hear. Our pope is saying you're welcome, and being welcome is so important," she said. "I'm really excited that at least the dialogue has opened, and we're not being called sinners or Satan."

Father Bryan Massingale, a theologian at Marquette University, said there was definitely a new tone in Francis' statements that gave gays and lesbians recognition as upright human beings searching for God.

He spoke to several in the gay community Monday and said that while people generally welcomed the remarks — even saying that they had never expected to hear a pope speak the way Francis did — they are cautious.

"The pain they've experienced from the church is still real," Massingale said. "So often they hear a voice of judgment and condemnation. I hope what Francis has done is show that we as Christians need to relate to gays and lesbians with justice and respect."

Denise Cawley, spokeswoman for the LGBT Community Center in Milwaukee, said the remarks were an important step for many gay Catholics. "For someone who's not just a religious leader but a political leader of so many thousands of people to send the message that anyone who's gay can be treated fairly, that's good for the whole world," she said. "Any step toward fairness and justice is a step for everybody."

Father Steven Avella, an expert on papal history at Marquette, said the remarks show that Francis has a "pastor's heart. The immediate approach of a good pastor is to prepare the way for people to hear you. If you go in there judging, it's game over."

Francis also is showing that he is modern, Avella said. "He sees this changing all around the world," he said, speaking of gradual affirmation of same-sex marriage and other rights for gays. "The church has to face up to this reality."